Reviews by BeerAficionadoMCMXC:

A- It's a dark reddish color. S- I already get a little hazelnut. Dark Fruits and raisin also come off the nose.T- Nice spicy balance. There is very low bitterness and it tastes honey-like as well.M- Perfectly balanced, Medium bodied beer.O- I am very impressed with the quality of beer here.

More User Reviews:

I'm just doing the Deschutes tour here at the Burger Bar at Mandalay Bay. After having Hop Henge, Black Butte XX, this is the next step in the progression.

2008 vintage: Served in a standard pint glass, the beer has a color somewhere between ruby and rust, but with an almost clear complextion. Lightly tanned head formation provides a creamy froath atop the beer.

Very malty and very fruity in the aromas with a orange zest, lemon zest spiciness from the hops. A follow of pine, nuttiness, and Christmas spices follow giving the beer a lot of complexity and variety in the nose.

Flavors of dense malty set the pace while hop flavoring begin the decoration of the bold barley additions. Pine is the most identifiable spice with modest cinamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice rounding out the malts. Malt flavors bring firm toffee, toasty, caramel, and nutty taste to support the cherry, berry, apple, and fig flavors. The beer has nearly all the attributes that an ale can have.

Full and malty rich textures give a lot of creaminess, firmness, and softness to the beer while the hops balance the sweetness well. Not a lot of residual sweetness but enough to keep the hops and added spices from becomming bitey or harsh.

Finishes with a long lingering taste of fruitcake, citrus, pine, and sweet rum-like alcohols.

This beer has the perfect delicate blend of malts and spices for great balance and complexity. This is my pick of the litter for Christmas Ales this year.

Pours a deep brown with some dark orange tinit with a nice creamy looking tan head,aromas of caramel and roasted nut along with some zest.Taste is earthy and chocolaty with a nice spicey finish,almost a higher hopped brown ale.A nice velvety mouthfeel the beer glides down the throat,a real winter warmer rich and hearty with alot of nice flavors going on.

Appearance  Liquid brown sugar in color with no head to speak of and tons of big sediment.

Smell  Big sherry and oak flavors jump out of the glass first, followed closely by the dark, sugary malts. This is the kitchen sink of sugars, and just about any type that Ive had is in this aroma. Theres some ripe bananas and cherries as well, but its one part fruit 99 parts sugar.

Taste  For a powerful ale, this is wonderfully blended. The sugars meld expertly with the malt and sherry oak flavor. No, this is not the same as the Deschutes Jubelale.

Mouthfeel  Almost full in the body with a big, chewy mouthfeel and a light sting of alcohol.

Drinkability  I felt like a king drinking this ale. This one is awesome. If youre looking for a BA Christmas present, this is it.

A - I opened up the bottle and started to pour and was amazed. It comes out of the bottle with a nice dark brown color. The head was light tan and fluffy. LOTS of lacing. The body is slightly foggy and full of particles and bubbles.

S - Sweet caramel and lots of malt. A lot going on with the taste. You get lots of malt flavors at first but they fade off and you get a very light hop bitterness on your tongue. Its sweet and a little bready.

T - A lot going on with the taste. You get lots of malt flavors at first but they fade off and you get a very light hop bitterness on your tongue. Its sweet and a little bready. I found the taste to be pretty complex.

M - Surprisingly light, by looking at it in the glass I expected a heavier beer. It goes down smooth and the carbonation is right. Flavors linger in the mouth for quite some time.

O - Good beer from Deschutes. Not too heavy but delivers some good malt and hop flavors infused quite nicely. Try it if you can!

Appearance: A garnet coloured beer, capped by a beige head, about two fingers thick, multiple bubble sizes, foamy and with a hell of a lot of stick on the glass and great retention. A lovely creamy lace if left behind, for the remainder of the beer's life.

Appearance: Deep brownish garnet color with a good clarity, light tan lace adorns the top ... a product of densely frothed head.

Smell: Sweet and earthy with a big hand of caramel, candied fruit and mineral. Hops are soft in the aroma with a leafy character.

Taste: Nice flush full body, smooth and crisp in the mouth. Malt character is very broad with a bitter-sweet start and a chocolaty finish with hints of lightly roasted coffee. Esters are quite abundant but are quelled with the sweetness of the brew, alcohol warms quite well. Fruity of the dark ripened variety, fig or prune in the mix? Hop bitterness cuts through the malt and leaves a trail of flavor that gets lost before the after taste. A triple fold of alcohol spiciness, heavy leftover hops and the mild chocolaty finish rush for the finish line. Pleasant and complex after taste.

Notes: One of the top true (unspiced) winter warmers in the US, a must year after year. A bottle full of holiday cheer or just something to warm your soul.

Very aromatic nose, with red apples, spicy nutmeg and cinnamon, a hint of chocolate, and a variety of hop aromas that are too numerous to try to decipher.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with tingly carbonation and a spicy bite that is like taking a nip of fresh ginger root.

Taste is delicately balanced, with lots of malty caramel and toffee mingling delightfully with a tame spiciness and a very tasty array of bittering hops. Hops offer citrus, floral, and herbal notes, with an occasional hint of spruce. I also noticed a hint of vanilla.

Definitely, one of the more drinkable winter warmers I've encountered and certainly one of the tastiest. Very well balanced.

The first one to enjoy a pint of this at Redbones today...thanks to Chris for posting right away.
Arrived in a standard pint glass...dark rust in color with a full finger and a half of creamy tan head...hung around forever and produced some serious lacing.
Aroma was inviting, but not over the top...molasses, mild spices, caramel.
The taste was enjoyable...not too sweet, but pleasantly one of the most well balanced WW's I've had the pleasure of trying. A hint of smokiness with again, subtle spices and a low hop profile to bitter it up just a touch in the finish.
The mouthfeel was medium bodied and the carbonation was fantastic.
I really enjoyed the pint and it is very quaffable. Another solid brew from Deschutes and one I'd gladly enjoy again.